Disney Transportation to MCO from PC

I cannot find any clear information on this. Using Disney transportation, what time do their buses get you into MCO? I was planning on taking a flight at approximately 1pm, but was unsure if this was enough time?

Do the buses all leave at a set time? On what basis do they schedule your bus?

Does anyone recommend the system where they take your bags and check them in for your flight? We'll probably be travelling with 3 cases, one containing a wedding dress (getting married in orlando before cruise, not on cruise), so would be slightly concerned about them getting lost along the way

Earliest Flight Departure from the Orlando International Airport on Debarkation Day  11:30 a.m.

The buses are not scheduled. As they fill up with passengers getting off the ship, they head out to MCO. We were sitting in MCO around 10:30 am both times we used DCL transportation. We used the onboard checkin with our bags and had no problems.

I cannot find any clear information on this. Using Disney transportation, what time do their buses get you into MCO? I was planning on taking a flight at approximately 1pm, but was unsure if this was enough time?

Do the buses all leave at a set time? On what basis do they schedule your bus?

Does anyone recommend the system where they take your bags and check them in for your flight? We'll probably be travelling with 3 cases, one containing a wedding dress (getting married in orlando before cruise, not on cruise), so would be slightly concerned about them getting lost along the way

Thanks in advance for all your help,
Steve

Click to expand...

Yup, you'll be fine taking any DCL bus from PC to MCO for a 1pm flight. Buses depart PC when they are full, so your actual port departure time is a function of when you get off the ship and how fast you clear customs. You will be directed right onto the next bus, and it will not be long before it fills and leaves...maybe 10 minutes at most? So say you walk off at 8am, clear customs 8:15am, on bus 8:20 and leaving 8:30, should be arriving MCO around 9:25ish.

For the wedding dress, unless your wife plans to wear it on the cruise, personally I'd ship it home before you leave on the cruise.

On board check-in is available for most airlines, but not Southwest. I think most people do it that way, we have and it works fine. You have to give up your bags on the evening before debarkation, so just be aware of that.

If you are on a participating airline and do the onboard check in, DCL gives you the luggage tag numbers that you can use to track your luggage on your smart phone. We were on Delta the last time and I tracked our luggage using the Delta app as we went from MCO-ATL-SDF.

If you have a smart phone I highly recommend downloading the app for your airline. We found it helpful when we had a delayed flight in Louisville which resulted in a gate change in Atlanta. The app was always up-to-date and it was easier to pull out my phone then to pull out our boarding passes.

If you are on a participating airline and do the onboard check in, DCL gives you the luggage tag numbers that you can use to track your luggage on your smart phone. We were on Delta the last time and I tracked our luggage using the Delta app as we went from MCO-ATL-SDF.

If you have a smart phone I highly recommend downloading the app for your airline. We found it helpful when we had a delayed flight in Louisville which resulted in a gate change in Atlanta. The app was always up-to-date and it was easier to pull out my phone then to pull out our boarding passes.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I had no idea the airlines had apps to track your luggage! That's extremely cool! Good information!

Earliest Flight Departure from the Orlando International Airport on Debarkation Day â 11:30 a.m.

The buses are not scheduled. As they fill up with passengers getting off the ship, they head out to MCO. We were sitting in MCO around 10:30 am both times we used DCL transportation. We used the onboard checkin with our bags and had no problems.

I will probably be flying with either American Airlines or Virgin America.

How much extra do DCL charge for this service?

Click to expand...

There are some conditions that must be met to use this service. You MUST purchase at least one leg of transportation from DCL (which you are already doing), you must be on a participating airline (which American is), and your flight must leave after 11:25 am. There is no extra cost it is included in your DCL transfer.

Here is the program info from the DCL site.

Onboard Airline Check-In

Enjoy the comfort and convenience of Onboard Airline Check-In when you purchase air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line.

When you register for Onboard Airline Check-In, you are entitled to:

Receive your boarding passes and check your luggage for your return flight before you disembark the ship.
Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.
Here's how it works:

Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line and sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in for your cruise at the port.
On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will magically be delivered to your stateroom, along with a letter answering common questions you may have.
Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation. Disney Cruise Line will collect and deliver your luggage to your airline.
When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, proceed to security with your boarding passes already in hand and continue on to your scheduled departure gate. Available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.

Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. On the day your cruise ends. Guests are limited to 2 bags per person and each piece must not exceed 50 lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and will be unable to use this service.

We recommend that you allow a minimum of 4 hours at the beginning and end of your cruise for travel time, customs/immigrations clearances and security checks at Port Canaveral and the airport. Additionally, on the day of your sailing, all Guests must board the ship no later than 3:45 p.m. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail with us.

For more information, please call (800) 951-3532. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

So, does anyone know how *late* the last bus usually goes? I'm a sleep-in kind of person, and my flight is not until 3:45 pm. Any idea how long I could procrastinate getting on the bus?

How early do you want to board? Folks show up at the terminal at 9am hoping to board by 11 ... boarding often DOES begin as early as 11:30

SO

doesn't that suggest they are going to want you off well b4 that time? They are going to make PLENTY of loud all ship announcements suggesting you get off ASAP (by your group) once they get cleared, in my experience (in Port Canaveral) ... I DOUBT you'll sleep through them. Besides, your cabin stew' will come in 'accidentally' to clean the room . . .

Tell your future wife to look into the services provided by Carolyn Allen.

DF and I are also getting married at Disney and then going on a cruise. We live in Seattle so I will ship my dress to Carolyn Allen before I leave. They will steam it and deliver it to my resort the day of the wedding. The next day they will pick it up, clean and preserve it and send it home to Seattle. Totally worth it!! The idea of traveling with my wedding dress is a little stressful.

I was on the phone with DCL today asking about the time, because it says on the site 11:30, so I booked 11:30 flights, and I got a message that the flights are too early, so I called. When I mentioned we had the transfers and I booked flights there on southwest, they were quite eager to tell me that I cannot do the online booking (we are flying back using a different airline). So for sure, Southwest is not participating in the onboard checkin. (btw, they said not to worry, I should get there in plenty of time)

So, does anyone know how *late* the last bus usually goes? I'm a sleep-in kind of person, and my flight is not until 3:45 pm. Any idea how long I could procrastinate getting on the bus?

How early do you want to board? Folks show up at the terminal at 9am hoping to board by 11 ... boarding often DOES begin as early as 11:30

SO

doesn't that suggest they are going to want you off well b4 that time? They are going to make PLENTY of loud all ship announcements suggesting you get off ASAP (by your group) once they get cleared, in my experience (in Port Canaveral) ... I DOUBT you'll sleep through them. Besides, your cabin stew' will come in 'accidentally' to clean the room . . .

What time is the last bus? Can't answer that one.

Click to expand...

How early do I want to board? When will my cabin be ready? 2pm is fine for me! I'd much rather sleep in and take my time, have a leisurely breakfast and not deal with the crowds waiting to be the first onboard! I get that lots of people want to get as much time on the ship as possible, but I'm staying at a lovely hotel, I'd just as soon take my time there, and leisurely get ready, and get to the ship whenever. But that's just me. (Of course, that's never going to happen, because I signed up for the DIS transfers, but still...)

How early do I want to board? When will my cabin be ready? 2pm is fine for me! I'd much rather sleep in and take my time, have a leisurely breakfast and not deal with the crowds waiting to be the first onboard! I get that lots of people want to get as much time on the ship as possible, but I'm staying at a lovely hotel, I'd just as soon take my time there, and leisurely get ready, and get to the ship whenever. But that's just me. (Of course, that's never going to happen, because I signed up for the DIS transfers, but still...)

Sayhello

Click to expand...

I've never heard of this or seen it referred to. Could you tell us more about it please? TYIA!

No, actually, sorry. What I meant is, I'm on the DIS Unplugged Podcast's Podcast Cruise 4.0 in 2 1/2 weeks. The DIS (Unplugged, i.e., Dreams Unlimited Travel) is offering their own transfers from WDW to Port Canaveral the day of the cruise. I think it's one bus per Resort, and it's unlikely they'll be planning to arrive at 2pm.